Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor and polynucleotides encoding therefor

ABSTRACT

There is provided polynucleotides encoding the full sequence for the marmoset and human Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (Type II GnRH-R). The corresponding amino acid sequences are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/GB01/01755, filed Apr. 17, 2001, which in turn claimed priority of U.S. provisional No. 60/215,232 filed Jun. 30, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a novel Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R), to genetically engineered host cells able to express the Type II GnRH-R, and the ligands and antibodies therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Type I gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a decapeptide released from the hypothalamus, and acts through.receptors to regulate the secretion of gonadotropins required for reproductive function (see Fink et al., “Gonadotrophin secretion and its control”, The Physiology of Reproduction, E Knobil and I Neill, New York, Raven Press, pages 1349-1377, 1988).

[0004] Receptors for Type I GnRH (ie Type I GnRH-R) are members of the large G-protein-coupled receptor family and are preferentially coupled to phosphoinositidase C via the G_(q)/G₁₁ family of G proteins. Typically Type I GnRH-Rs are located in the gonadotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland (where binding of Type I GnRH leads to release of the gonadotropins luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), as well as on the central and peripheral nervous systems, gonads, placenta and on certain tumours, such as breast and prostate. Type I GnRH receptors may display both up and down regulation and Type I GnRH agonists have been used in management of prostate and breast cancer, as well as to stimulate gonadotropin secretion in the treatment of infertility.

[0005] Expression of mouse and rat Type I GnRH-R was first achieved by injecting poly(A)+mRNA from a suitable source (eg from the pituitary gland) into Xenopus oocytes (see, for example, Eidne et al., J. Mol. Endocr. Vol 1, pages R9-R12, 1988; Yoshida et al., Molecular Endocrinology, Vol 3, pages 1953-1960, 1989; and Sealfon et al., Molecular Endocrinology, Vol 4, pages 119-124, 1990). This system allowed some characterisation of the pharmacology of the Type I GnRH-R.

[0006] The protein-encoding nucleotide sequence of the murine Type I GnRH-R was first published by Tsutsumi et al., (Molecular Endocrinology, Vol 6, pages 1163-1169, 1992) together with the deduced amino acid sequence for murine Type I GnRH-R. Eleven different forms of GnRH in vertebrates have been identified to date (see King and Millar, “Co-ordinated evolution of GnRHs and their receptors”, in GnRH Neurons: Gene to Behavior, Eds. I. S. Parhar and Y. Sakuma, Brain Shuppan, Tokyo, pages 51-77, 1997; see Sealfon et al., Endocr. Rev. 18:180-205, 1997; Millar et al., “Plasticity in the structural and functional evolution of GnRH: A peptide for all seasons”, in Proceedings of the XIIIth International Conference of Comparative Endocrinology, Eds. S. Kawashima and S. Kikuyama, Moduzzi Editore, Italy, pages 15-27, 1997; and see Sherwood et al., General and Comparative Endocrinology, 112, 1998). Many of these different GnRH forms are in fact variants of GnRH Type I. However, distinct Type II and Type III GnRHs have been identified.

[0007] Type II GnRH was originally isolated from chicken brain (see Millar and King, News Physiological Science, 3:49-53, 1988) and was initially termed “chicken GnRH II” or “cGnRH II”. Subsequent investigations have revealed that this isoform is present in most vertebrate species, and of all the GnRH isoforms GnRH II is the most ubiquitous. The wide distribution of GnRH II suggests on important function and it is postulated to have a neuromodulatory, and possibly a neuroendocrine, role in the central and peripheral nervous systems (see Millar and King, 1988, supra). GnRH II has been shown to regulate M currents (K⁺ channels) in the sympathetic ganglion (Bosma et al., in G proteins and Signal Transduction, The RockeFeller University Press, pages 43-59, 1990) and stimulates reproductive behaviour (see King et al., in GnRH Neurones:Gene to Behavior, eds. Parhar (Brain Shuppan), Tokyo, pages 51-77, 1997. It has also been postulated that GnRH II acts as a specific FSH-releasing agent (Millar et al. Ref No. 33).

[0008] Type II GnRH is highly expressed in kidney, bone marrow and prostate tissues as well as the extrahypothalamic brain (White et al. Ref No. 15).

[0009] To date only partial sequence information has been available for a Type II GnRH-R. Specifically, Millar et al. (in Journal of Endocrinology, 162:117-126, 1999) reported a continuous nucleotide sequence of 1642 nucleotides of the human gene, obtained by screening the human genome EST (expressed sequence tag) database. The EST sequences were confirmed in the cloned human gene and in PCR products of cDNA from several tissues. All the EST transcripts detected were in the antisense orientation with respect to the novel GnRH receptor sequences herein described and were highly expressed in a wide range of human brain and peripheral tissues.

[0010] PCR analysis of the cDNA partial sequence obtained by Millar et al., revealed that an intronic sequence equivalent to intron 2 of human Type I GnRH-R was retained. The intron itself was not spliced out in the transcript, but this was expected for anti-sense transcripts, as candidate donor and acceptor sites were only present in the gene when transcribed in the orientation encoding the GnRH receptor homolog. Despite extensive 5′ RACE studies Millar et al. did not obtain any transcript 5′ to the sequence corresponding to intron 2 of human Type I GnRH-R, and the antisense transcripts terminated in poly A due to the presence of a polyadenylation signal sequence in the putative intron 2 when transcribed in the antisense orientation (see FIG. 1).

[0011] None of the sequence revealed any contiguous open-reading frame which would translate a functional protein. Millar et al. concluded that the putative receptor was probably a pseudogene representing a receptor which had become redundant and further investigations have revealed that the full-length antisense transcript encodes a novel ribonucleoprotein (RNP) which localised to chromosome 14 (Ref 26). Subsequently it was found that the gene was a pseudogene for both RNP and Type II GnRH-R. The presence of the RNP explains the widespread tissue expression observed and it is significant that only the 3′ untranslated sequences of the RNP cDNA overlap the putative GnRH Type II receptor sequences encoding the equivalent of exon 1 and exon 2.

[0012] Despite the findings of Millar et al. which suggest that an operative version of GnRH-R Type II does not exist in mammals, we have now obtained the full nucleotide sequence encoding the Type II GnRH-R from marmoset and also complete nucleotide sequences (including exon I) encoding the human Type II GnRH-R. The human Type II GnRH-R herein reported has been localised to chromosome 1 (1q12-21).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention thus provides a polynucleotide encoding a functional Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R) peptide.

[0014] Alternative coding sequences for the human Type II GnRH-R sequences are provided, which encode variants of the Type II GnRH-R. The first human Type II GnRH-R sequence (SEQ ID No. 3) provides one a sequence encoding Type II GnRH-R. The second human Type II GnRH-R sequence (SEQ ID No. 36) provides three potential variants of this sequence. These sequence variations may be the result of allelic polymorphisms or other causes. More specifically, SEQ ID No. 36 has four nucleotides which vary from SEQ ID No. 3; i.e. position 481(G or C), 897(either C or T), 1069(A→T) and 1073(A→G). Thus the three possible variants provided by SEQ ID No. 36 are where the positions are as follows:

[0015] Variant 1—481=C, 897=T, 1069=T and 1073=G

[0016] Variant 2—481=G, 897=T, 1069=T and 1073=G

[0017] Variant 3—481=C, 897=C, 1069=T and 1073=G

[0018] A prefered variant is variant 1.

[0019] The term “peptide” is used herein to refer to any peptidal compound without connotation of size, and includes therefore larger molecules which elsewhere may alternatively be termed “polypeptides” or “proteins” also fall within this definition.

[0020] In one embodiment the peptide encoded comprises at least a portion of exon I. By “exon I” we refer to that portion of Type II GnRH-R which corresponds to and exhibits substantial homology with exon I of Type I GnRH-R. In particular we refer to a peptide which includes over 90% of the amino acid sequence 1 to 170 in the marmoset Type II GnRH-R sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 or to a peptide which includes the equivalent amino acids of the human Type II GnRH-R sequences. Thus, for example, exon I refers to amino acid nos. 1 to 168 of splicing alternative 1 as set out in SEQ ID No. 5 (see FIG. 3). The above terminology has been adopted for clarity; the short splice referred to below is herein designated intron 1′ to distinguish it from intron 1. Consequently the short exon (exon 1′) comprising amino acids nos. 1 to 9 of the human Type II GnRH-R peptides is incorporated into exon I as herein defined.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention include polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 1 (marmoset) or SEQ ID No. 3 or 36 (human) or polynucleotides which encode a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 2 (marmoset) or SEQ ID Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 37, 39, 41 or 43 (human).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 the marmoset amino acid sequence of Type II GnRH-R has over 90% homology with the corresponding human sequences. Accordingly, the present invention incorporates any polypeptide having at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3 or 36.

[0023] When the human nucleotide sequences are compared to that of the marmoset, there is an apparent single-base deletion at position 30 of the coding sequence. The earlier EST sequence (Genbank BG036291) matches the 5′ end of the sequence, but the match ends at nucleotide 29 of the coding sequence and continues from nucleotide 290 of the coding sequence, indicating that this is a splice site. In the chicken receptor an intron was also located in a similar position. Excision of a very short intron (intron 1′) at this position would account for the frame shift; very short introns have been noted in other genes, for example the mouse alpha-7 integrin gene has an intron of only 16 bases (Genbank L23422). There are three alternative splicing possibilities, involving 5-, 8- or 38-base deletions, each of which would restore the open reading frame of the human Type II GnRH-R.

[0024] The start of the human Type II GnRH-R amino acid sequence following each of the three splicing alternatives is set out below: Splicing alternative 1: (5 bases deleted from position 29 on) Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp 9 1 ATG TCT GCA GGC AAC GGC ACC CCT TGG Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala 17 28 GCA GCG GGG GAG GAG GTC TGG GCT Splicing alternative 2: (8 bases deleted from position 29 on) Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp 9 1 ATG TCT GCA GGC AAC GGC ACC CCT TGG Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly 17 28 GCG GGG GAG GAG GTC TGG GCT GGA Splicing atlernative 3: (38 bases deleted from position 29 on) Met Ser ALa Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp 9 1 ATG TCT GCA GGC AAC GGC ACC CCT TGG Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu 17 28 GTG GAG GTG GAG GGC TCA GAG CTG

[0025] The full sequences for human Type II GnRH-Rs according to the first splicing alternative are set out in SEQ ID Nos. 5 and 6, 38 and 39; according to the second splicing alternative in SEQ ID Nos. 7 and 8, 40 and 41; and according to the third splicing alternative in SEQ ID Nos. 9 and 10, 42 and 43.

[0026] As shown in SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 36, the human nucleotide sequences includes an apparent stop codon in the first part of exon 2. In the marmoset the equivalent codon (shown at nucleotides 449-452 of SEQ ID No. 1) represents an arginine. A modified version of SEQ ID No. 3 or 36 whereby the stop codon is engineered to represent an amino acid (for example arginine) is hereby incorporated. However, we believe that the codon TGA does not function as stop codon, but is instead translated as selenocysteine. In eukaryotes decoding of TGA as selenocysteine requires the selenocysteine insertion element (SECIS) in the 3′ UTR of the mRNA (see Copeland et al., EMBO J, 19(2): 306-14, 2000; and Fagegaltier et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 29(14): 2679-80, 1995). The putative UTR of the sequence (see SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 36) was found to contain the SECIS pattern RTGAN{13,15}AARN{23,26}GA. Thus, selenocysteine insertion at that position of the protein (amino acid no 177 in SEQ ID Nos. 6 and 39; amino acid no 176 in SEQ ID Nos. 8 and 41; amino acid No. 166 in SEQ ID Nos. 10 and 43) is possible. In SEQ ID Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 36, 38, 40 and 42 the TGA in shown as Xaa (and defined as TGA in the preamble to the sequence) simply to maintain the coding sequence as a whole in the PATENTIN program.

[0027] Desirably the polynucleotide according to the present invention encodes a peptide which is able to bind specifically to Type II GnRH and, preferably, is able to function as a receptor therefor.

[0028] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 36, 38, 40 and 42 correspond to particular alleles of the marmoset and human gene respectively, and that allelic variation is likely. Allelic variants can be cloned by probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals according to standard procedures. Allelic variants of the DNA sequences shown in the sequence listing, including those containing silent mutations and those in which mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, are within the scope of the present invention, as are proteins which are allelic variants of SEQ ID No. 2 and Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 37, 39, 41 and 43.

[0029] The present invention also comprises polynucleotides encoding homologous Type II GnRH-Rs from other species, preferably other mammalian species. Murine, porcine, ovine, bovine, canine, feline, equine and primate Type II GnRH-Rs are of particular interest. The sequence information provided in SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 36, 38, 40 and 42 together with the techniques described herein and the standard conventional cloning techniques known in the art are sufficient to obtain such homologous polynucleotides. For example, there is a substantial body of knowledge concerning the techniques required for the art of genetic engineering and reference is made to Maniatis et al, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 1982 and “Principles of Genetic Engineering”, Old and Primrose, fifth addition, 1994.

[0030] The present invention also includes modified sequences retaining Type II GnRH-R function (i.e. the ability to bind GnRH Type II) and having at least 70% homology (preferably 80% homology, especially preferably 85-90% homology and most preferably over 90% homology) with the nucleotide sequence in question. Functional equivalents of such polynucleotides are also part of this invention. In particular, we include nucleotide substitutions which do not affect the amino acid expressed. The term “functional equivalent” used herein refers to any derivative in which nucleotide(s) and/or amino acid(s) have been added, deleted or replaced without a significantly adverse effect on expression of the gene product or on biological function thereof. Thus, for example, amino acid Glu may be encoded by the codon gag or by the codon gaa and each construct may be varied in this way without affecting the sequence of the expressed peptide. Additionally, most vertebrates have three types of GnRH and it is postulated that three cognate receptors exist. Together with collaborators (Troskie, Kwon and Wangli) we have identified Types I, II and III GnRH receptors in Xenopus and bullfrog. The Type III GnRH-R is more similar to Type II GnRH-R than Type I. We therefore propose the existence of a Type III human GnRH-R with homology to Type II. Thus, the Type III GnRH-R is expected to have substantial homology with the Type II GnRH-R described herein and hence will be covered by the modified versions of the sequences disclosed.

[0031] The polynucleotides may be in any form (for example DNA or RNA, double or single stranded) but generally double stranded DNA is the most convenient. Likewise the polynucleotides according to the present invention may be part of a recombinant genetic construct, which itself may include a vector (for example an expression vector) and eukaryotic vectors (as well as prokaryotic vectors) are of interest. Alternatively, the construct may be incorporated into the genome of a transgenic animal. Any vectors or transgenic animals comprising a polynucleotide as described above form a further aspect of the present invention.

[0032] Viewed in a yet further aspect the present invention provides a recombinant expression system able to express the Type II GnRH-R described above. DNA constructs (i.e. a standard vector recombinantly combined with a polynucleotide sequence coding for the Type II GnRH-R of interest) and cells transformed with such constructs are also encompassed by the present invention.

[0033] The term “expression system” is used herein to refer to a genetic sequence which includes a protein-encoding region and is operably linked to all of the genetic signals necessary to achieve expression of that region. Optionally, the expression system may also include a regulatory element, such as a promoter or enhancer, to increase transcription and/or translation of the protein encoding region or to provide a control over expression. The regulatory element may be located upstream or downstream of the protein encoding region or within the protein encoding region itself.

[0034] In addition to the Type II GnRH-R construct described above, the present invention also provides host cells transformed with such constructs and which may express the biologically active modified gene product.

[0035] In a further aspect, the present invention provides a stable cell-line capable of expressing Type II GnRH-R, preferably human Type II GnRH-R, as described above. By “stable” we mean that the cell-line retains its ability to express useful quantities of Type II GnRH-R after several (e.g. 10) generations, with any decrease in the level of Type II GnRH-R expression being sufficiently low not to materially affect the utility of the cell-line.

[0036] Desirably the host cell transformed with the construct encoding the human Type II GnRH-R is of mammalian origin, but other cell types may also be useful. Examples include prokaryotic cells (such as E. coli), non-mammalian derived eukaryotic cells (such as insect, yeast or plant cells). Suitable host cells include, for example, COS-1 cells, COS-7 cells, COSM6 cells, CHO cells, BHK cells, GH₃ cells, HEK293 cells and 293EBNA cells.

[0037] The present invention also provides isolated peptides comprising a functional Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R) peptide. Preferably said peptide comprises at least a portion of exon I.

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the peptides according to the present invention include peptides having an amino acid sequence corresponding to the sequence of amino acid nos 1 to 170 of SEQ ID No. 2 (preferably comprising substantially the full sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 2) or corresponding to the sequence of amino acid nos 1 to 168 of SEQ ID No. 6 or 39, amino acid nos 1 to 165 of SEQ ID No. 8 or 41, or amino acid nos 1 to 155 of SEQ ID No. 10 or 43 (preferably also comprising substantially the full sequence of SEQ ID Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 37, 39, 41 or 43).

[0039] Desirably, the peptide is able to bind to Type II GnRH and, preferably, is a functional receptor therefor.

[0040] The present invention also provides antibodies specific to Type II GnRH-R peptides, preferably antibodies which are specific to the extracellular domains of Type II GnRH-R, for example EC3 in exon 3 thereof. The term “antibodies” as used herein includes not only monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, but also antigen binding fragments thereof, trimeric or tetrameric constructs and recombinant or proteolytic antibody fragments.

[0041] Antibodies directed to EC1, EC2 and EC3 (especially EC2) are of particular interest and may be of therapeutic value for cancer treatment. The Type II GnRH-R can be expressed and used to screen agents of potential therapeutic interest.

[0042] Thus, the present invention further provides a method of screening an agent for pharmacological activity (i.e. to ascertain its utility in binding to Type II GnRH-R), said method comprising:

[0043] a) providing a Type II GnRH-R peptide as described above and exposing said Type II GnRH-R peptide to the agent to be tested; and

[0044] b) ascertaining whether said agent interacts with (for example binds specifically to) said Type II GnRH-R peptide.

[0045] Labelled (eg. radio-labelled or fluorescent-labelled) antibodies may be used to determine whether the agent and Type II GnRH-R interact together. Optionally a washing step may be included to remove labels not bound to the agent or GnRH-R.

[0046] An expression system able to produce the Type II GnRH-R described above may be used in this method; preferably the expression system will be a transformed cell-line, the host cell usually being of mammalian origin. Alternatively the expression system may be a transgenic animal.

[0047] Optionally, the receptor expressed may be mutated to produce constitutively active receptors which can be used to screen for antagonists and agonists.

[0048] An expression system able to produce the Type II GnRH-R described above may be used to screen agents of potential therapeutic use (such as Type II GnRH agonists or antagonists). Desirably, therefore the expression system will imitate at least some aspects of Type II GnRH-induced signal transduction. Optionally, the expression system may be a stable cell line, the host cell usually being of mammalian origin. Alternatively the expression system may be a transgenic animal.

[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, the Type II GnRH-R itself or extracellular domain thereof (e.g. the EC2 or EC3 loop) could be administered in vivo. The free GnRH-R or extracellular domains (which could be synthetic peptides) could competitively bind to GnRH and inhibit its reaction with the native receptor in vivo.

[0050] Alternatively, the Type II GnRH-R or an extracellular domain thereof may be used as a means of contraception. For example, a patient may be immunised by injection with the Type II GnRH-R. This will induce antibody production to the Type II GnRH-R and the antibodies so produced will also interact with native Type II GnRH-R affecting reproductive ability. Alternatively, the exogenous Type II GnRhH-R may bind competitively for endogenous GnRH.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the following, non-limiting, examples and Figures in which:

[0052]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the human gene structure of Type I GnRH-R and of Type II GnRH-R. The positions of the extracellular (EC) and intracellular (IC) loop domains, transmembrane (dark blocks) and carboxy terminal tail (C) are indicated. The approximate positions of the “short splice” (SS) for intron 1′ and selenocysteine (SeCys) in the human receptor is shown.

[0053]FIG. 2 shows the immunolocalisation of Type II GnRH receptor and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) to sheep pituitary:

[0054] a) immunolocalisation of Type II GnRH-R using antibody against EC3;

[0055] b) immunolocalisation of LH to pituitary gonadotropes;

[0056] c) co-localisation using antibodies a) and b) and enzymatic detection;

[0057] d) co-localisation of Type II GnRH-R (black) and LH (grey) by confocal microscopy; some cells contain LH only but most expressing Type II GnRH-R are LH positive.

[0058]FIG. 3 is a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the first human Type II GnRH-R according to splicing alternative 1, and marmoset Type II GnRH-R.

[0059] The numbering used is that of the human sequence. Asterisks (*) indicate identity, and vertical slashes (|) conserved substitution. Regions predicted to be helical from homology modelling with the rhodopsin crystal structure are indicated. Exon boundaries, the position of the short splice (intron 1′) and the apparent stop codon in the human sequence are also shown.

[0060] The amino acid sequence of the second human Type II GnRH-R sequence according to the first splice alternative (SEQ ID No. 39) may differ from that in FIG. 3 (i.e. SEQ ID No. 6) by 3 amino acids; C71→S, L210→F and N267→I.

[0061]FIG. 4 shows the heterologous competitor binding of ¹²⁵I-[His⁵, D-Tyr⁶]GnRH mediated by the Marmoset Type II GnRH-R expressed in COS-7 cells in the presence of increasing doses of the peptides (IC₅₀ values indicated in nM): mGnRH (mammalian GnRH, ▪, 51.7±1.9 nM; GnRH II (GnRH Type II, ▴, 1.3±0.2 nM); and sGnRH (salmon GnRH, ▾, 9.8±1.4 nM). Error bars represent s.e.m. (n=2).

[0062]FIG. 5 shows the total inositol phosphate production mediated by the Marmoset Type II GnRH-R expressed in COS-7 cells in response to concentration of various peptides (EC₅₀ values indicated in nM) mGnRH (mammalian GnRH, ▪, 33.2±6.3 nM); GnRH II (GnRH Type II, ▴, 0.46±0.12 nM); sGnRH (salmon GnRH, ▾, 8.7±0.5 nM); [D-Arg⁶] GnRH II ([D-Arg⁶]GnRH Type II, ♦, 1.1±0.23 nM); and Ant 135-18 (Antagonist 135-18, , 223±7 nM). Error bars represent s.e.m. (n=2).

[0063]FIG. 6 shows receptor binding (a) and inositol phosphate production (b) of mammalian GnRH I (◯) and GnRH II () in COS-7 cells transfected with marmoset Type II receptor (left panel) and human Type I receptor (right panel). Stimulation of inositol phosphate by Type I receptor Antagonist 135-18 (□) at the Type II receptor is also shown. Error bars represent s.e.m. of 3-6 separate experiments.

[0064]FIG. 7 shows the Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) response to GnRH I and II in sheep. FIG. 8 shows activation of ERK2 and p38α MAP kinases by Type I (open bars) and Type II (closed bars) GnRH receptors in COS-7 cells. Stimulation of Type I (a) and II (b) GnRH receptors with mammalian GnRH I, GnRH II and Antagonist 135-18 of immunoprecipitated myc-ERK2. Inset panels depict anti-phospho-ERK2 immunoblotting of anti-myc COS-7 cell immunoprecipitates. FIG. 8c, Left panel,shows selective and time-dependent activation of p38α by GnRH II stimulation (100 nM) of Type II GnRH receptor. Stimulation of Type I GnRH receptor (100 nM) failed to activate p38α MAP kinase. The right panel demonstrates that both Type I and Type II GnRH receptor stimulation induces a time-dependent activation of ERK but that the GnRH II stimulation of the Type II receptor is more prolonged. Data represent mean±s.e.m., n≧3.

[0065]FIG. 9 shows expression of Type II GnRH receptor in marmoset and human tissues. (a) RT-PCR was carried out with specific primers on cDNA prepared from marmoset RNA isolated from various tissues. PCR products were fractionated by size on agarose gels. Type II GnRH receptor levels were normalised to actin RNA and represented as the log of the RNA expression relative to pituitary. Hatched bars indicate marmoset brain tissues, solid bars indicate marmoset reproductive tissues while open bars indicate other marmoset tissues. (b, c) Expression of the Type II GnRH receptor in human tissues was examined in Northern blots of mRNA (Clontech) by hybridisation with ³²p labelled human exon 1; (b) mRNA from human cerebellum (1), cerebral cortex (2), medulla (3), spinal cord (4), occipital pole (5), frontal lobe (6), temporal lobe (7) and putamen (8); (c) mRNA from heart (1), whole brain (2), placenta (3), lung (4), liver (5), skeletal muscle (6), kidney (7) and pancreas (8). Another blot showed moderate expression in the amygdala and low expression in caudate nucleus, corpus callosum, hippocampus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus and thalamus (data not shown).

EXAMPLES

[0066] Following numerous failed attempts to locate exon I from the sequence reported by Millar et al. (Journal of Endocrinology (1999), Vol 162, pages 117-126) subsequent work demonstrated that the antisense sequence of Millar et al. was the 3′ untranslated end of an RNP which localised to chromosome 14.

[0067] It was recognised that as long as exon 2 or exon 3 sequence information was used in PCR we would always detect the 3′ untranslated end of the RNP since this is highly expressed in all tissues. In addition, the putative intron 2 of Type II receptor would always be retained. Since this transcript ends with a polyadenylation in the region of the equivalent of intron 1 of the putative Type II receptor (read in the opposite direction to RNP), we would never obtain information on exon 1 of the Type II receptor.

[0068] We concluded that three new elements were necessary to find the putative Type II GnRH receptor.

[0069] a) Search the data bases for a nucleotide sequence encoding part of exon 1.

[0070] b) Generate an antibody against a highly specific domain which is responsible for ligand selectivity (see Sealfon et al., Endocr. Review 18:180-205 and Troskie et al., General and Comparative Endocrinology 112:296-302 (1998)) in extracellular loop 3 of the human Type II vis-à-vis Type I receptor to determine in which tissue this rare receptor is expressed.

[0071] c) Undertake chromosomal localisation to determine if the coding sequence exists in a pseudogene locale (with RNP) and in another “real” gene location elsewhere.

Materials and Methods

[0072] Cloning of the marmoset Type II GnRH receptor. RNA was isolated from marmoset pituitary and brain stem using RNAsol B (Biogenesis). 2 μg of RNA was incubated with 1 mM dNTPs, 2 μM random hexa-polynucleotides (Promega), gene specific primers or anchored oligo-dT primers at 80° C. for 10 min. 1×RT buffer (Sigma), 1 U/μl RNAsin (Promega) and 0.5 U/μl AMV reverse transcriptase (Sigma) were added in a total volume of 20 μl and incubated at 55° C. for 2 h, then 65° C. for 10 min. Primers designed to the Type II marmoset GnRH receptor exon sequences. Primers were chosen to span putative introns, to enable detection of processed RNA in the presence of possible genomic DNA contamination and the RNP antisense transcript. 50 ng of purified (Qiagen) cDNA produced with random hexa-polynucleotides were subjected to PCR using human sequences previously described (17) and human genomic sequence encoding exon 1 (Zymogenetics AL 160282, BG 636291, AA 954764). Round 1 PCR: 5 cycles at 65° C., 23 cycles at 63° C. using primers S1 and A1 (S1, GATGCCACCTGGAATATCACTG (SEQ ID No. 17); A1, AGGCAGCAGAAGG (SEQ ID No. 18). Round 2 PCR: 5 cycles at 63° C., 25 cycles at 61° C. using 1 μl of products from Round 1 as template and primers S2 and A2 (S2, CAGCCTGGGGACTTAGTTTCCTG (SEQ ID No. 19); A2,GGTTATAGGTGGTCTCTTGC (SEQ ID No. 20). Products were size-purified (Qiagen), cloned into pGEM-T (Promega) and sequenced. Sense and antisense oligonucleotides were designed from the novel marmoset sequences and used in 3′ and 5′ RACE. For the remaining PCRs a three-step protocol was used where the annealing temperature of the first 5 cycles was 2° C. higher than the lower T_(m) of the two primers. In the second step the annealing temperature of 5 cycles was the same as the lower T_(m) of the two primers. The third step was 20 cycles with annealing temperatures 2° C. below the lower T_(m) of the two primers. For the 5′ RACE a poly-A sequence was added to 50 ng marmoset pituitary cDNA produced with gene specific primers. Products were purified (Qiagen) and subjected to PCR. 2 μl of products of a first round PCR, using primers S3 and A3, were used in a second round of PCR using primers S4 and A4 (S3, GACCACGCGTATCGATGTCGACTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTV (SEQ ID No. 21) (anchored RACE primer from Boehringer Mannheim); A3, GAAGGGACTGGACCAGCTCG (SEQ ID No. 22); S4, GACCACGCGTATCGATGTCGAC (SEQ ID No. 23); A4, CAAGGCAAGCAGGAAACTAAG (SEQ ID No. 24)). For the 3′ RACE 50 nq marmoset pituitary cDNA was produced with anchored oligo-dT primers was subjected to PCR using primers S5 and S3 (S5, ACCTCTTCACCTTCTGCTGCCT (SEQ ID No. 25)). 2 μl of products from this PCR and primers S6 and S4 were used in a secondary PCR (S6, CCTCCTCAATGCTCCTTTGGATC (SEQ ID No. 26). Products were size purified (Qiagen), cloned into pGEM-T (Promega) and sequenced. Full length marmoset Type II GnRH receptor was produced by PCR using oligos of the 5′ UTR (S7, GAATTCGCTTCATACTCACACTTCATC (SEQ ID No. 27); S8, CGGAATTCTCACACTTCATCCTCCTATCTC (SEQ ID No. 28)) and the 3′ sequence including the stop codon (A5, GCTCTAGAGATCAGATTGATGTTATAGGAATG (SEQ ID No. 29)). 50 ng of marmoset brain stem cDNA produced with random hexa-polynucleotides was subjected to PCR using primers S7 and A5. 2 μl of products and primers S8 and A5 were used in a secondary round of PCR. Products of this PCR were purified (Qiagen), cloned into pcDNA3.1+ (Invitrogen) and sequenced. The resultant plasmid was used in expression studies.

[0073] Immunocytochemistry. Tissues from human, mouse, sheep, rhesus and cynomologus monkeys were obtained. An antiserum to the human Type II GnRH receptor was produced by immunisation of rabbits with a synthetic peptide corresponding to EC3 (YSPTMLTEVPPC (SEQ ID No. 30)) conjugated to keyhole limpet haemocyanin via the Cys residue. This peptide, a synthetic peptide to EC3 of the human Type I receptor (DPEMLNRLSDPC (SEQ ID No. 31)) and haemocyanin were used for immunoneutralisation specificity studies. For detection of mammalian GnRH I specific antiserum GF6 was used (18).

[0074] Tissue sections (15 μm) were subjected to the peroxidase/diaminobenzidine visualisation technique as previously described (18, 19). Fluorescent labelling was accomplished using the same procedure up to the step prior to ABC reaction, when the fluorescein label (Rhodamine 600, avidin D or FITC) was applied to the slides and incubated at room temperature in the dark for 2-4 hours. For double labelling, slides were incubated sequentially with avidin D and biotin blocking solutions for 15 min each, then re-incubated with the next primary antibody, followed by the other fluorescent labelling (Rhodamine or FITC). Controls, including omission of primary antibodies and order of exposure, were consistently negative. Immunofluorescence was viewed at two wave lengths by confocal microscopy.

[0075] Cell culture and transfection. COS-7 cells were cultured as previously described (20, 21). Transient transfections of COS-7 cells with human Type I GnRH receptor or marmoset Type II GnRH receptor, along with myc-tagged ERK2, JNK and p38α constructs were performed using Superfect (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. All assays described were performed 48 h post transfection.

[0076] Receptor binding and inositol phosphate production. Receptor binding utilising ¹²⁵I-[His⁵-D-Tyr⁶]GnRH I and inositol phosphate production by GnRH ligands were studied as previously described (20-22).

[0077] Phospho-MAP kinase assay. Serum starved (12-16 h) COS-7 cells, transfected with human Type I or marmoset Type II GnRH receptors were treated with either mammalian GnRH I, GnRH II or antagonist 135-18 for the time and dose specified for FIG. 9 at 37° C. After ligand stimulation, COS-7 cells were prepared for immunoprecipitation (23). Co-transfected myc-tagged MAP kinase constructs were immunoprecipitated from cell lysates by overnight incubation with myc-agarose slurry (Santa Cruz), washed, an equal volume of 2×Laemmli sample buffer added, resolved by SDS-PAGE and electrotransferred to PVDF membrane (NEN Life Sciences). Activated MAP kinase was detected using anti-phospho-ERK/JNK/p38a-kinase specific antisera (New England Biolabs), visualised by enzyme-linked chemifluorescence (Amersham-Pharmacia) and quantified using a phosphorimager. The degree of phosphorylated MAP kinase was normalised to the amount of unphosphorylated MAP kinase detected with specific antisera.

[0078] Expression of Type II receptor mRNA in marmoset and human tissues. Total RNA was extracted from various marmoset tissues using TRI reagent (Sigma), and cDNA was produced using oligo dT primers (Ambion). PCR was performed on the cDNA using marmoset Type II GnRH receptor cDNA specific primers spanning exons 1-3 (sense: CTTCGGCTGGAGGGAACCTG, antisense: GGTGCCCTCTTCGGCAGC), and actin specific primers. PCR products were run on an agarose gel and blotted onto HybondN⁺ nylon membrane (Amersham). The Southern blot was probed with random primed marmoset Type II GnRH receptor cDNA or actin cDNA. Southern blots were quantified using a phosphorimager and marmoset Type II GnRH receptor expression was normalised to the expression of actin.

[0079] Expression in human tissues was examined by Northern blots of mRNA with random primed ³²p labelled human Type II GnRH receptor exon 1. The human Type II GnRH receptor genomic sequence (P1 clone) was obtained by Genome Systems (St Louis, Md.) using PCR screen of P1 clones with oligonucleotides to human sequences (17). Oligonucleotides (antisense: CTGTCCTGCCCGGTCCTGAG; sense: TGCCCACCTTCTCGGCAGCA) to this sequence were used with the P1 clone to produce a 460 bp amplicon. Labelling was done with ³²p dCTP (6000 Ci/mMole) using supplier's specified conditions (Stratagene). Hybridisation was performed using 2×10⁷ cpm at 65° C. in 5×SSC/0.005% SDS/5×Denhardt's/2 mg/ml salmon sperm DNA, washing with 0.1×SSC/0.5% SDS at 55° C. and the blots exposed to X-ray film for 6 days.

[0080] Stimulation of LH and FSH in sheep. The relative potency of mammalian GnRH I and GnRH II at inducing FSH and LH secretion in vivo was tested using our Soay ram sheep model (24). This was repeated during both the sexually active (short days, SD) and inactive phases (long days, LD) of the photoperiod-induced reproductive cycle (24). The same animals (n=8) were used on the two occasions. The GnRHs were administered at doses of 250 ng/ram and 10 μg/ram in a cross-over design with a week between treatments to permit full recovery. The peptides were dissolved in 1 ml of 0.9% saline and given as an intravenous bolus. Blood samples were collected every 10 min, from 20 min before, until 2 h after the treatments and assayed by specific radioimmunoassays (24). The FSH and LH responses to the GnRH agonists were calculated as delta responses (2 h mean hormone concentration post treatment minus 20 min mean pre-treatment hormone concentration). These values were used to calculate the FSH:LH response ratio for GnRH II and GnRH I, and thus the overall ratio for the GnRH II stimulation compared with the mammalian GnRH I stimulation. This was assessed for each animal and then for the group (mean±SEM, n=8), under both LD and SD.

Results and Discussion

[0081] Cloning and Primary Structure of the Marmoset Type II GnRH Receptor.

[0082] Amplification of EC3 from genomic DNA from a range of vertebrate species revealed two distinct sequences of receptors representing the known Type I receptors and novel Type II receptors in an amphibian and reptile (25). Searches of human EST databases revealed homologous sequences to the reptile EC3 (17). From EST contigs we constructed a partial receptor sequence encoding the putative exons 2 and 3 corresponding to these exons of the Type I receptor (17). All ESTs were in the antisense orientation and it transpired that these were in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of a novel human ribonucleoprotein (RBM8) which was highly expressed in all tissues examined (26). The equivalent of exon 1 was absent from the RMB8 3′ UTR. It was therefore evident that the identification of sequences homologous to exon 1 was essential to discover the Type II receptors. Searches of human databases, using as a query exon 1 of the human Type I receptor, revealed several ESTs and genomic sequences BG 036291, AA 954764; AL

[0083] Since the receptor was likely to be a rare transcript expressed in discrete tissues, we generated antisera to the EC3 domain of the human Type II receptor and found by immunocytochemistry strong reactivity in pituitary and brain of the human, rhesus monkey, sheep and mouse (FIG. 2). We then used oligonucleotides to the human exon 1 and RBM8 3′ UTR sequences to amplify cDNA from marmoset pituitary and brain by PCR and 5′ RACE procedures. The full length cDNA encodes a 380 amino acid protein with characteristic G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structure SEQ ID No. 1. Although it is more homologous with GnRH receptors than other GPCRs, it has only 41% sequence identity with the human Type I receptor suggesting an early evolutionary gene duplication. It also possesses a carboxy terminal tail which is important for rapid desensitization and is uniquely absent from mammalian Type I receptors (27-30). The receptor also does not have the unusual Asn/Asp microdomain of transmembrane helices 2 and 7 of the mammalian Type I receptors which plays a role in receptor activation (21). Instead it has the Asp/Asp motif as in non-mammalian Type I GnRH receptors recently cloned (7, 9). The Drosophila GnRH receptor homologue has the usual Asp/Asn motif characteristic of most GPCRs (31) indicating that there was an initial mutation to Asp/Asp in the ancient vertebrate GnRH receptor followed by mutation to Asn/Asp in the mammalian Type I receptors. The activation role of this microdomain (21) may therefore be further elucidated by experimentation with the Type II receptor. The LSD/EP sequence of EC3 which is important for ligand selectivity of mammalian Type I receptors (9, 20) is replaced by VPPS which is also present in reptile (VPPS) and amphibian (VPPV) Type II GnRH receptors (25). This difference in sequence is likely, therefore, to be a determinant of Type II receptor selectivity for GnRH II as all other binding sites (9) are conserved.

[0084] Pharmacological Characterization of the Marmoset Type II GnRH Receptor.

[0085]FIG. 4 shows the heterologous competition binding of ¹²⁵I-[His⁵, D-Tyr⁶]GnRH mediated by the Marmoset Type II GnRH receptor expressed in the transfected COS-7 cells and shows that the Type II GnRH receptor demonstrates high selectivity for GnRH Type II.

[0086] The affinity and specificity of the Type II GnRH receptor for the natural GnRHs and two GnRH analogues is shown in FIG. 5. Further characterisation of GnRH agonists and antagonists can be determined with the routine binding assays. The identification of the signalling pathway of the receptor was examined by testing the ability of the ligand-induced receptor to activate second messenger generating systems.

[0087] Using the above described expression system, we have determined that the Type II GnRH-R activates the production of Inositol phosphate (see FIG. 5) but does not stimulate cyclic AMP production.

[0088] Thus, expression of the Type II receptor in COS-7 cells revealed that it is highly selective for GnRH II in receptor binding assays (FIG. 4) and in the stimulation of inositol phosphate intracellular messenger production (40-fold and 90-fold greater activity relative to mammalian GnRH I) (FIG. 5) (Table 1). This contrasts with the Type I receptor in which GnRH II has only 10% and 9% activities of mammalian GnRH I in these assays (FIG. 6). Overall GnRH II has an affinity 24-fold greater for the Type II receptor than for the Type I receptor. The Type II receptor was also more selective for salmon GnRH and [D-Arg⁶]GnRH II (Table 1). TABLE 1 Comparative ligand binding and inositol phosphate production properties of marmoset type II & human Type 1 GnRH receptors. Ligand binding InsP production (IC₅₀) (EC₅₀) Marmoset Human Marmoset Human Peptides Type II Type I Type II Type I GnRH II 1.07 ± 0.04 26.1 ± 4   0.45 ± 0.05 7.41 ± 1.55 GnRH I 42.6 ± 3.19 2.81 ± 0.17 40.5 ± 4.43 0.63 ± 0.08 sGnRH 9.48 ± 2.17  244 ± 23.6 5.99 ± 0.91 9.62 ± 3.5  [D-Arg⁶] 3.34 ± 0.06 11.9 ± 0.35 2.39 ± 0.64  3.8 ± 0.71 GnRH II Antagonist 1650 ± 478  10.6 ± 1.4   276 ± 45.5 Full 135-18 antagonist

[0089] Moreover, a Type I receptor GnRH antagonist behaved as an agonist at the Type II receptor (FIG. 5). It has recently been demonstrated that control of gonadotropin biosynthesis and regulation of gonadotrope function regulated by GnRH can be mediated by the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases). Therefore we assessed the capacity of both the Type I human GnRH receptor and the marmoset Type II GnRH receptor to activate the three major MAP kinase prototypes, ERK, JNK (a particular type of MAP kinases available through Eisuke Nishida, Kyoto University) and p38α in COS-7 cells. At the Type I receptor, mammalian GnRH I was considerably more potent than GnRH II in activating ERK2 (FIG. 8a). In contrast, at the Type II receptor the ligand specificity was the inverse and antagonist 135-18 had significant agonist activity compared with low activity at the Type I receptor (FIG. 8 panels a and b). Agonist-induced activation of JNK was not detected with stimulation of either the Type I or Type II receptor (data not shown). However, activation of p38α was detected upon stimulation of the Type II receptor but not with stimulation of the Type I receptor (FIG. 8c). The time course of p38α activation was also considerably more protracted than that for Type I/II receptor activation of ERK2. In addition we noted that ERK2 stimulation via the Type I GnRH receptor is more transient than that mediated by Type II GnRH receptor stimulation (FIG. 8c). There are therefore distinct differences in signalling by the two receptors.

[0090] Tissue distribution and expression of the marmoset Type II GnRH receptor. To gain insight into the potential functions of the Type II receptor, its expression in human and marmoset tissues was examined. PCR amplification of cDNA from marmoset brain tissues revealed that it is expressed in the pituitary, spinal cord, pons, cerebellum, putamen, medulla, hypothalamus, preoptic area, midbrain, occipital pole, frontal lobe and corpus callosum (FIG. 9a). Expression was high in reproductive tissues such as testis, prostate, mammary glands, seminal vesicles and epididymis. Substantial expression was detected in adrenal, thyroid, heart and skeletal muscle but little or no expression was found in other tissues such as liver, ovary and bladder (FIG. 9a). Northern blots yielded a similar expression pattern (data not shown). Northern blots on human tissues probed with exon 1 showed highest expression in the cerebral cortex and occipital pole, moderate expression in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe and putamen, and low expression in the cerebellum, medulla and spinal cord (FIG. 9b). There was substantial expression in the amygdala and low expression in the caudate nucleus, corpus callosum, hippocampus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus and thalamus (data not shown). There was also significant expression in the heart and pancreas but little or no expression in placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle and kidney (FIG. 9c).

[0091] Type II GnRH receptor function in the pituitary. A specific antiserum to EC3 of the human Type II receptor was used to conduct immunocytochemistry and demonstrated specific expression of the receptor in human anterior pituitary (FIG. 2). In view of the possibility that the novel Type II receptor may regulate pituitary function, we determined if it was expressed in the pituitary of other mammals. Staining was also found in about 10% of cells, (the relative occurrence of gonadotropes), in the anterior pituitary of the mouse and sheep (FIG. 2). In the sheep anterior pituitary double staining with Type II receptor and LH antisera revealed that the Type II receptor immunoreactivity is co-localised in 69% of LH positive cells (FIG. 2). Only 12% of Type II receptor positive cells were negative for LH. Since mammalian GnRH I binding sites also co-localise with LH in up to 90% of gonadotropes in the rat pituitary at proestrus (32), it is likely that the majority of gonadotropes express both Type II and Type I receptors and suggests that these receptors may co-ordinately regulate LH and FSH biosynthesis and secretion. The presence of Type II receptors in the majority of gonadotropes is, at first consideration, unexpected as there is a substantial literature suggesting that a single GnRH (mammalian GnRH I) is sufficient to regulate the secretion of gonadotropins, and that the differential secretion of LH and FSH during the mammalian ovarian cycle may be adequately accounted for by modulatory effects of gonadal steroids (androgen, estrogen and progesterone) and peptides (activin, inhibin and follistatin) (14). However, a substantial number of physiological studies invoke the existence of an FSH-releasing peptide to account for the differential secretion of gonadotropins (13-16).

[0092] In the early studies on the GnRH II (previously called chicken GnRH II), it was found to have preferential FSH-releasing activity when compared with chicken GnRH I (chicken Type I GnRH) (33). Moreover, GnRH II has been localised to the hypothalamic area in species of non-mammalian vertebrates (see Refs. (7, 8) for review) and the supraoptic, paraventricular, arcuate and pituitary stalk regions of monkeys where it is thought to play a role in gonadotropin secretion (19, 34). We therefore conducted studies using a well-established sheep model to determine the relative effects of mammalian GnRH I and GnRH II on LH and FSH secretion. The responses to a 250 ng bolus of GnRHs was too low for comparison of relative LH and FSH secretion. At the 10 μg dose all the rams showed a robust response and every individual exhibited a higher ratio of FSH to LH secretion when treated with GnRH II compared with mammalian GnRH I (FIG. 7). The mean ratio of FSH to LH induced by GnRH II was 2.14±0.29 and 2.02±0.34 (mean±SD) times higher than that induced by mammalian GnRH I for sexually active and sexually quiescent rams respectively. The FSH/LH ratios generated in both sexually active and quiescent rams upon GnRH II treatment were both significantly greater (p=0.03, p=0.002 respectively, paired two-tailed t-test) than with mammalian GnRH I treatment.

[0093] When it is considered that GnRH II has an affinity and potency of ≦20% of mammalian GnRH I at the Type I receptor (7, 9, 20), and the in vivo secretion of the two peptides is likely to be finely tuned in both concentration and phasing of pulsatile release, our exogenous bolus administration of the peptides is a relatively crude approach. Thus, the relative differential stimulation of FSH by endogenously secreted GnRH II may be much greater in vivo.

[0094] The findings of GnRH II in the hypothalamus, the presence of the Type II receptor immunoreactivity in gonadotropes and differential release of gonadotropins suggest that, contrary to existing dogma, gonadotropins are regulated by two different forms of GnRH acting through two separate cognate gonadotrope receptors. In order to elicit differences in relative LH and FSH secretion mammalian GnRH I and GnRH II would have to have different patterns of duration of release, concentration and pulse frequency of secretion and/or differential intracellular signalling pathways. The differential, temporal or qualitative, downstream signalling between the Type II and Type I receptors shown here may provide the means for preferential FSH secretion.

[0095] GnRH II activation of the Type II receptor in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia potently inhibits M-type K⁺ channels (11). A similar action in gonadotropes would partially depolarise them thus facilitating external excitatory inputs to the cell or entry of extracellular Ca²⁺ through L type channels, which occurs on stimulation of Type I receptors by mammalian GnRH I (1-3). These two GnRHs and GnRH receptor systems, along with differences in signalling pathways, provide the means for differential FSH and LH secretion and open the possibility of developing new GnRH II analogues for the treatment of diseases of the reproductive system as well as contraceptives which selectively inhibit FSH and gametogenesis without affecting sex steroid hormone production.

[0096] Type II GnRH receptor may have roles in neural development and sexual arousal. In view of its wide distribution in the central and peripheral nervous systems, GnRH II has been proposed to have a neuromodulatory role (7, 8) as evidenced by K⁺ channel inhibition in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia (11). Our demonstration of a GnRH II-selective receptor expression in many brain regions (FIGS. 2, 9) supports this. Type II GnRH receptor antisera immunoreactive cells were widely seen in the extrahypothalamic regions, such as medial septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, substantia innominata, basal nuclues of Meynert, claustrum, amygdala and putamen, and in the hypothalamic regions, such as supraoptic nucleus, periventricular area, ventromedial nucleus and dorsomedial nucleus in rhesus monkeys at embryonic days E58, E70 and E78 as well as in the adult cynomologus monkey. In some of these areas (e.g. midbrain and supraoptic nucleus) the GnRH II ligand is also expressed (19, 34). The distribution pattern of Type II GnRH receptor positive cells in extrahypothalamic regions overlapped with that of the early developing mammalian GnRH I cells we have described (18). Later in embryonic development the GnRH I cells were not consistently immunopositive with Type II GnRH receptor antiserum. This suggests a potential role for the receptor in the development of mammalian GnRH I neurones. An intriguing observation was that neurones which express the mammalian GnRH I gene in the preoptic area and periventricular region of the hypothalamus (Ref. 34) were stained with the Type II GnRH receptor antiserum in the rhesus monkey, suggesting that

[0097] GnRH II may regulate mammalian GnRH I neurones. Mammalian GnRH I is known to have ultrashort feedback on its own secretion (8, 35) but the co-localisation of Type II receptor on mammalian GnRH I neurones in the hypothalamic regions suggests that some effects on mammalian GnRH I secretion may be mediated via GnRH II.

[0098] GnRH has been shown to have direct effects on reproductive behaviour and sexual arousal in rodents independent of its stimulation of sex hormone production (8, 36). Rapid changes in GnRH content of brain areas, cell number and cell size in response to visual, olfactory and other stimulants of sexual behaviour have been observed in species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals (see Refs. (7, 8, 10, 36, 37) for review). Moreover, GnRH II is much more effective than mammalian GnRH I in stimulating courtship and song in ring doves (7) and song sparrows (12), and GnRH II distribution shifts from midbrain cell bodies to terminal regions following the initiation of courtship in newts (37). There is remarkable concurrence of the distribution of the Type II GnRH receptor in the temporal lobe, putamen, amygdala, medial preoptic area, ventromedial nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus and periventricular nucleus of the human or monkey brain with effects of lesions and/or electrical stimulation of these areas on reproductive behaviours such as sexual interest, erection, intromission, thrusting and ejaculation in rats, dogs, cats, monkeys and humans (36-38). GnRH II has also been localised to these regions in the rhesus monkey (19, 34).

[0099] The mechanism of action of GnRH II in the nervous system of mammals is unknown but the peptide has been identified in sympathetic ganglia of amphibians where it binds to selective high affinity receptors (22) and potently inhibits M-type K⁺ channels (11). Inhibition of these K⁺ channels by GnRH II facilitates fast excitatory transmission by conventional neurotransmitters, by increasing input resistance of postsynaptic neurones and by partial depolarization (11). This may, therefore, provide a general neuromodulatory mechanism for GnRH II effects in the nervous system, and specifically in reproductive behaviour, by facilitating signalling by neurotransmitters.

[0100] Type II GnRH receptor in reproductive tissues. The marmoset Type II GnRH receptor expression and GnRH II ligand expression (7, 8, 11) in non-neural reproduction-related tissues such as the mammary gland, prostate, gonads and adrenal cells may resolve the long-standing enigma of the non-concurrence of the binding pharmacology of receptors in these tissues and in various tumours (e.g. prostate, ovarian and mammary gland (1-3)) with that of the known pituitary Type I receptor which is believed to be the receptor in these tissues. For example, the paradox of similar effects of both GnRH agonists and antagonists (1, 2) on proliferation of these tumour cell lines can be rationalised if the Type II receptor is mediating these effects, as we have shown that certain mammalian GnRH I antagonists (e.g. 135-18) behave as agonists with the Type II receptor (FIG. 8b). Moreover, the antiproliferative effects of GnRH analogues on cell lines of these tumours is consistent with the activation of p38α by the Type II receptor since this MAP kinase is known to be antiproliferative (39).

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0 SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 43 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 1465 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Callithrix jacchus <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (41)..(1180) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <400> SEQUENCE: 1 acttcatact cacacttcat cctcctatct ccaggccacc atg tct gca gta aac 55 Met Ser Ala Val Asn 1 5 ggc acc cct tgg ggg tcc tca gcg cgg gag gag gtc tgg gca gga tcg 103 Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Ala Arg Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser 10 15 20 gga gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg aca gca gca 151 Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Thr Ala Ala 25 30 35 aag gtc cga gtg gga gtg acc att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga 199 Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly 40 45 50 ggg aac ctg gct gtc ctg tgg tca gtg aca cgg ccg caa ccc agc cag 247 Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Pro Gln Pro Ser Gln 55 60 65 ctc cgc ccc tct ccg gtc agg aga ctc ttc gcc cat tta gca gcc gcc 295 Leu Arg Pro Ser Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ala His Leu Ala Ala Ala 70 75 80 85 gac tta cta gtc act ttt gtg gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat 343 Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn 90 95 100 atc act gtt cag tgg ctg gct ggg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctc atg 391 Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Gly Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met 105 110 115 ttc ctg aaa cta atg gcc atg tat gct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc 439 Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Met Tyr Ala Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val 120 125 130 att gga ctg gat cgc cag gca gca gta ctc aat ccg ctt gga tcc cgc 487 Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg 135 140 145 tca ggt gta agg aaa ctt ctg ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg 535 Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu 150 155 160 165 ctt gcc ttg ccc cag ctg ttc ctg ttc cat acc gtc cac cga gct ggt 583 Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Arg Ala Gly 170 175 180 cca gtt ccc ttc act cag tgt gcc acc aaa ggg agc ttc aag gct cga 631 Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Ala Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Arg 185 190 195 tgg caa gag acc acc tat aac ctc ttc act ttc tgc tgc ctc ttt ctg 679 Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Phe Leu 200 205 210 ctg cca ctg act gcc atg gcc atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtg ctc ggt 727 Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Gly 215 220 225 gtg tcc agc ccc cgg aca agg aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gcc ggg gaa 775 Val Ser Ser Pro Arg Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu 230 235 240 245 ttt gcc ctc cgt cgc tcc ttc gac aat cgt ccc cgt gtc cgt ctt cgg 823 Phe Ala Leu Arg Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Arg Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg 250 255 260 gcc ctg aga ctg gcc ctg ctc gtc ttg ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg 871 Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Val Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp 265 270 275 aca cct tat tac tta cta ggt ctg tgg tac tgg ttt tcc ccg agc atg 919 Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Leu Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Ser Met 280 285 290 cta agt gaa gtc cct ccc agc ctc agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttt ggc 967 Leu Ser Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Phe Gly 295 300 305 ctc ctc aat gct cct ttg gat cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt 1015 Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu 310 315 320 325 ggc tgc cga aga ggg cac caa gaa ctt agt atg gac tct tct agg gaa 1063 Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Met Asp Ser Ser Arg Glu 330 335 340 gaa ggg tct agg aga atg ttc caa cag gac att cag gcc ctt aga caa 1111 Glu Gly Ser Arg Arg Met Phe Gln Gln Asp Ile Gln Ala Leu Arg Gln 345 350 355 acg gag gta caa aaa act gtg aca tca aga aag gca gga gaa aca aaa 1159 Thr Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Lys Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys 360 365 370 gac att cct ata aca tca atc tgatcctaac acagtataga gaaacacaat 1210 Asp Ile Pro Ile Thr Ser Ile 375 380 aattctttaa taccataaga tcttaacgtc tcaatttcct gctctcctaa tcccccccaa 1270 aagaaatact gagcagtgtc tccatttaaa ccctgcctga acttgagact atgtctaata 1330 cagaaactca cacaactagc ctgggcaaca cagtgagacc taatctctat agaaatatta 1390 aaaggttaag ccaggcatgg tggcatgtgc ctggaacccc agctactggg agggtgaggc 1450 agaaggatgg cttgg 1465 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 380 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Callithrix jacchus <400> SEQUENCE: 2 Met Ser Ala Val Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Ala Arg Glu Glu 1 5 10 15 Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr 20 25 30 Phe Ser Thr Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe 35 40 45 Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg 50 55 60 Pro Gln Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Ser Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ala 65 70 75 80 His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Gly Asp Ile Ala 100 105 110 Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Met Tyr Ala Ala Ala 115 120 125 Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn 130 135 140 Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp 145 150 155 160 Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr 165 170 175 Val His Arg Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Ala Thr Lys Gly 180 185 190 Ser Phe Lys Ala Arg Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe 195 200 205 Cys Cys Leu Phe Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser 210 215 220 Arg Ile Val Leu Gly Val Ser Ser Pro Arg Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His 225 230 235 240 Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Arg Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Arg Pro 245 250 255 Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Val Leu Leu Thr 260 265 270 Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Leu Trp Tyr Trp 275 280 285 Phe Ser Pro Ser Met Leu Ser Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile 290 295 300 Leu Phe Leu Phe Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr 305 310 315 320 Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Met 325 330 335 Asp Ser Ser Arg Glu Glu Gly Ser Arg Arg Met Phe Gln Gln Asp Ile 340 345 350 Gln Ala Leu Arg Gln Thr Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Lys 355 360 365 Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Asp Ile Pro Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 380 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 2650 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(292) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n is absent in the human sequence, but included herein for ease of alignment with the corresponding marmoset sequence. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(297) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-297 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(300) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-300 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(330) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-330 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (798)..(800) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 798-800 is the codon tga translated as a selenocysteine (amino acid No. 179) <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1400) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The CDS shown includes some apparent amino acids (from Gly 10 onwards) which would be deleted in a short intron. <400> SEQUENCE: 3 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg ggn 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly 1 5 10 tca gca gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag 341 Ser Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu 15 20 25 ggc tca gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga 389 Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly 30 35 40 gtg acc att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc 437 Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val 45 50 55 ctg tgg tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tgt ccg 485 Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro 60 65 70 gtc agg aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act 533 Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr 75 80 85 90 ttt gtg gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg 581 Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp 95 100 105 ctg gct gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg 629 Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met 110 115 120 gcc acg tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc 677 Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg 125 130 135 cag gca gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa 725 Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys 140 145 150 ctt ctg ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag 773 Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln 155 160 165 170 ctg ttc ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act 821 Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr 175 180 185 cag tgt gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc 869 Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr 190 195 200 tat aac ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ctt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc 917 Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala 205 210 215 atg gcc atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag 965 Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln 220 225 230 aca agg aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc 1013 Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg 235 240 245 250 tcc ttt gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc 1061 Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala 255 260 265 ctg ctt aac tta ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta 1109 Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu 270 275 280 ctg ggt atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct 1157 Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro 285 290 295 ccc agc ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct 1205 Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro 300 305 310 ttg gat cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg 1253 Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly 315 320 325 330 cac caa gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg 1301 His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met 335 340 345 ctc caa gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act 1349 Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr 350 355 360 gtg aca tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct 1397 Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser 365 370 375 atc tgatcctaac agagtatgta ggaacagaat agtaagtctt tagtgccata 1450 Ile agatcttaac atctcacttc tactcctgct ctcctagttc cccccaaaaa agaaatactg 1510 accagtgtct ctactttaaa ccctacctga aacttgagac tatgtctaat atagaaactc 1570 acataactag cccaggtaac acagcaagac cccatctcta caaaaatatt aaaaatttag 1630 ctgggcatgg tggcatgtgc ctgtaatccc aactactagg gacagtgagg cagaaggatg 1690 gcttgagccc aagagtttga agctgcagtg agctatgatc agctgcaatc caccctgggt 1750 aacacagcaa gactctatct caaaaaaaag aaaaaaaaga aatacataga gttcagtccc 1810 tagaagtatc ttcacaatga tccatacagc cttgctatgc tttagaactt tcaattttag 1870 gacaggaaag taacattaaa tgtagaaaac aaaaatggaa catttattcg caactcaaat 1930 actacgcata tacggtaaga gattaaatat aaacacagca agttccaccc cagtcctatt 1990 tgtccaaggc tgcatggtca aatggaatct tgaagagaac acctggacaa cagaggacct 2050 gtcagcgacg tctccggtct ggacttctgc tgcgtcttcg gccacctcta gggaaaaaga 2110 agcagggaga ggagtccatt agagggacat aatactaagt cctcattctg tttcgttcgt 2170 attcccttca cccagacagt atttgccctc ttcattttac ctcctcttgc cttttggtgg 2230 accccgaaca aaacaccagt caacgctgat gggctgtccc atcaaatcct ggccattgag 2290 tccctccata gcagcctggg cttccttgta tgtttcatat tcaactagag tatacccctg 2350 gggaaagtga aaagacagat atgaaaaccc tcctatttcc ccaagtatca ctgagtatct 2410 ttttcctcaa atctaaactc agaaaaatct acacacttta aacaatgaat gtacatcata 2470 tatctctact gtatatatac atcatctccg tttctgtctc tttggcgtgt ctgacaaaac 2530 atagatttcc aatgtcattt tatttcaact ttgctcttgg ccaaccacag caaacacaga 2590 actacgaatg ctacctaagg cttatgaaag aaaggaggca ataaagtgtc acttaggata 2650 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 379 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (179)..(179) <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(292) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n is absent in the human sequence, but included herein for ease of alignment with the corresponding marmoset sequence. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(297) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-297 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(300) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-300 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(330) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-330 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (798)..(800) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 798-800 is the codon tga translated as a selenocysteine (amino acid No. 179) <400> SEQUENCE: 4 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly Ser Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu 1 5 10 15 Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr 20 25 30 Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe 35 40 45 Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg 50 55 60 Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile 65 70 75 80 His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala 100 105 110 Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala 115 120 125 Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn 130 135 140 Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp 145 150 155 160 Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr 165 170 175 Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly 180 185 190 Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe 195 200 205 Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser 210 215 220 Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His 225 230 235 240 Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro 245 250 255 Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr 260 265 270 Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp 275 280 285 Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile 290 295 300 Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr 305 310 315 320 Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile 325 330 335 Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His 340 345 350 Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala 355 360 365 Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 1397 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1394) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (792)..(794) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 792-794 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid No. 177) <400> SEQUENCE: 5 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gca 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca 341 Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser 15 20 25 gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga gtg acc 389 Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr 30 35 40 att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc ctg tgg 437 Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp 45 50 55 tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tgt ccg gtc agg 485 Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg 60 65 70 aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act ttt gtg 533 Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val 75 80 85 90 gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg ctg gct 581 Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala 95 100 105 gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg gcc acg 629 Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr 110 115 120 tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc cag gca 677 Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala 125 130 135 gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa ctt ctg 725 Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu 140 145 150 ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag ctg ttc 773 Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe 155 160 165 170 ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act cag tgt 821 Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys 175 180 185 gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc tat aac 869 Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn 190 195 200 ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ctt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc atg gcc 917 Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala 205 210 215 atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag aca agg 965 Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg 220 225 230 aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt 1013 Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe 235 240 245 250 gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc ctg ctt 1061 Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu 255 260 265 aac tta ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta ctg ggt 1109 Asn Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly 270 275 280 atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct ccc agc 1157 Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser 285 290 295 ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct ttg gat 1205 Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp 300 305 310 cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg cac caa 1253 Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln 315 320 325 330 gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg ctc caa 1301 Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln 335 340 345 gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act gtg aca 1349 Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr 350 355 360 tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct atc tga 1397 Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 377 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (792)..(794) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 792-794 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid No. 177) <400> SEQUENCE: 6 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser 20 25 30 Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser 35 40 45 Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu 50 55 60 Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala 85 90 95 Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg 100 105 110 Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu 115 120 125 Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu 130 135 140 Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His 165 170 175 Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe 180 185 190 Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys 195 200 205 Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile 210 215 220 Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro 225 230 235 240 Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val 245 250 255 Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile 260 265 270 Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser 275 280 285 Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe 290 295 300 Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala 305 310 315 320 Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser 325 330 335 Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe 340 345 350 Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu 355 360 365 Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 1394 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1391) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (789)..(791) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 789-791 is the codon tga translated as a selenocysteine (amino acid No. 176). <400> SEQUENCE: 7 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gcg 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca gag 341 Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 15 20 25 ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga gtg acc att 389 Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile 30 35 40 gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc ctg tgg tca 437 Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser 45 50 55 gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tgt ccg gtc agg aga 485 Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg 60 65 70 ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act ttt gtg gtt 533 Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val 75 80 85 90 atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg ctg gct gtg 581 Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val 95 100 105 gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg gcc acg tat 629 Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr 110 115 120 tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc cag gca gca 677 Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala 125 130 135 gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa ctt ctg ggg 725 Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly 140 145 150 gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag ctg ttc ctg 773 Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu 155 160 165 170 ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act cag tgt gtc 821 Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val 175 180 185 acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc tat aac ctc 869 Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu 190 195 200 ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ctt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc atg gcc atc 917 Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile 205 210 215 tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag aca agg aag 965 Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys 220 225 230 ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt gac 1013 Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp 235 240 245 250 aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc ctg ctt aac 1061 Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn 255 260 265 tta ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta ctg ggt atg 1109 Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met 270 275 280 tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct ccc agc ctg 1157 Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu 285 290 295 agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct ttg gat cct 1205 Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro 300 305 310 ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg cac caa gaa 1253 Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu 315 320 325 330 ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg ctc caa gag 1301 Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu 335 340 345 gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act gtg aca tca 1349 Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser 350 355 360 aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct atc tga 1394 Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 376 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (789)..(791) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 789-791 is the codon tga translated as a selenocysteine (amino acid No. 176). <400> SEQUENCE: 8 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala 20 25 30 Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser 35 40 45 Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr 85 90 95 Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr 100 105 110 Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro 115 120 125 Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly 130 135 140 Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa 165 170 175 Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys 180 185 190 Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu 195 200 205 Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val 210 215 220 Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala 225 230 235 240 Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg 245 250 255 Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu 260 265 270 Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro 275 280 285 Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu 290 295 300 Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser 325 330 335 Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg 340 345 350 Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr 355 360 365 Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 1364 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1361) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (759)..(761) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 759-761 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 9 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gtg 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val 1 5 10 gag gtg gag ggc tca gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc 341 Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val 15 20 25 cga gtg gga gtg acc att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac 389 Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn 30 35 40 ctg gca gtc ctg tgg tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc 437 Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg 45 50 55 ccc tgt ccg gtc agg aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta 485 Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu 60 65 70 cta gtc act ttt gtg gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act 533 Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr 75 80 85 90 gtt caa tgg ctg gct gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg 581 Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu 95 100 105 aaa cta atg gcc acg tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga 629 Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly 110 115 120 ttg gac cgc cag gca gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt 677 Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly 125 130 135 gta agg aaa ctt ctg ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc 725 Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala 140 145 150 ttc ccc cag ctg ttc ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc 773 Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val 155 160 165 170 cct ttc act cag tgt gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa 821 Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln 175 180 185 gag acc acc tat aac ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ctt ctg ctg cca 869 Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro 190 195 200 ctg act gcc atg gcc atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc 917 Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser 205 210 215 agg ccc cag aca agg aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc 965 Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala 220 225 230 ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg 1013 Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu 235 240 245 250 aga ctg gcc ctg ctt aac tta ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct 1061 Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro 255 260 265 tat tac cta ctg ggt atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act 1109 Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr 270 275 280 gaa gtc cct ccc agc ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc 1157 Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu 285 290 295 aat gct cct ttg gat cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc 1205 Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys 300 305 310 cga aga ggg cac caa gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct 1253 Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser 315 320 325 330 ggg aga atg ctc caa gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta 1301 Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val 335 340 345 caa aaa act gtg aca tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct 1349 Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser 350 355 360 ata aca tct atc tga 1364 Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 366 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (759)..(761) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 759-761 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 10 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile 20 25 30 Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser 35 40 45 Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Cys Pro Val Arg Arg 50 55 60 Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val 65 70 75 80 Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val 85 90 95 Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr 100 105 110 Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala 115 120 125 Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly 130 135 140 Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu 145 150 155 160 Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val 165 170 175 Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu 180 185 190 Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile 195 200 205 Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys 210 215 220 Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp 225 230 235 240 Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn 245 250 255 Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met 260 265 270 Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu 275 280 285 Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro 290 295 300 Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu 305 310 315 320 Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu 325 330 335 Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser 340 345 350 Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 355 360 365 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 51 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(51) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <400> SEQUENCE: 11 atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gca gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg 48 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp 1 5 10 15 gct 51 Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 12 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp 1 5 10 15 Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 51 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(51) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <400> SEQUENCE: 13 atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct 48 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 gga 51 Gly <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 14 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 51 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(51) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <400> SEQUENCE: 15 atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca gag 48 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 ctg 51 Leu <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 16 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 Leu <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jac chus) GnRH receptor exon sequences <400> SEQUENCE: 17 gatgccacct ggaatatcac tg 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 13 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (callithrix Jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences <400> SEQUENCE: 18 aggcagcaga agg 13 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences <400> SEQUENCE: 19 cagcctgggg acttagtttc ctg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 20 ggttataggt ggtctcttgc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 39 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 21 gaccacgcgt atcgatgtcg actttttttt ttttttttv 39 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences <400> SEQUENCE: 22 gaagggactg gaccagctcg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 23 gaccacgcgt atcgatgtcg ac 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 21 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 24 caaggcaagc aggaaactaa g 21 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 25 acctcttcac cttctgctgc ct 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 26 cctcctcaat gctcctttgg atc 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 27 gaattcgctt catactcaca cttcatc 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 28 cggaattctc acacttcatc ctcctatctc 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer directed to the Type II marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) GnRH receptor exon sequences. <400> SEQUENCE: 29 gctctagaga tcagattgat gttataggaa tg 32 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 12 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: synthetic peptide <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic peptide corresponding to EC3 of human (Homo sapiens) Type II GnRH receptor. <400> SEQUENCE: 30 Tyr Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Cys 1 5 10 <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 12 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: synthetic peptide <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic peptide to EC3 of the human (Homo sapiens) Type I GnRH receptor <400> SEQUENCE: 31 Asp Pro Glu Met Leu Asn Arg Leu Ser Asp Pro Cys 1 5 10 <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer (sense) : Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Type II GnRH receptor. <400> SEQUENCE: 32 cttcggctgg agggaacctg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 18 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer (anti sense) : Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Type II GnRH receptor <400> SEQUENCE: 33 ggtgccctct tcggcagc 18 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer (sense) : Human (Home sapiens) Type II GnRH receptor <400> SEQUENCE: 34 ctgtcctgcc cggtcctgag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Synthetic primer <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Synthetic primer (antisense) : Human (Homo sapiens) Type II GnRH receptor <400> SEQUENCE: 35 tgcccacctt ctcggcagca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 2650 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(292) 223> OTHER INFORMATION: n is absent in the human sequence, but included herein for ease of alignment with the corresponding marmoset sequence. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(297) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-297 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(300) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-300 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(330) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-330 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (798)..(800) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 798-800 is the codon tga translated as a seleno cysteine (amino acid No. 179) <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1400) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The CDS shown includes some apparent amino acids (from Gly 10 onwards) which would be deleted in a short intron. <400> SEQUENCE: 36 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg ggn 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly 1 5 10 tca gca gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag 341 Ser Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu 15 20 25 ggc tca gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga 389 Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly 30 35 40 gtg acc att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc 437 Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val 45 50 55 ctg tgg tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tst ccg 485 Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro 60 65 70 gtc agg aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act 533 Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr 75 80 85 90 ttt gtg gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg 581 Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp 95 100 105 ctg gct gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg 629 Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met 110 115 120 gcc acg tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc 677 Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg 125 130 135 cag gca gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa 725 Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys 140 145 150 ctt ctg ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag 773 Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln 155 160 165 170 ctg ttc ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act 821 Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr 175 180 185 cag tgt gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc 869 Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr 190 195 200 tat aac ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ytt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc 917 Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala 205 210 215 atg gcc atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag 965 Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln 220 225 230 aca agg aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc 1013 Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg 235 240 245 250 tcc ttt gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc 1061 Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala 255 260 265 ctg ctt atc ttg ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta 1109 Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu 270 275 280 ctg ggt atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct 1157 Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro 285 290 295 ccc agc ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct 1205 Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro 300 305 310 ttg gat cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg 1253 Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly 315 320 325 330 cac caa gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg 1301 His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met 335 340 345 ctc caa gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act 1349 Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr 350 355 360 gtg aca tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct 1397 Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser 365 370 375 atc tgatcctaac agagtatgta ggaacagaat agtaagtctt tagtgccata 1450 Ile agatcttaac atctcacttc tactcctgct ctcctagttc cccccaaaaa agaaatactg 1510 accagtgtct ctactttaaa ccctacctga aacttgagac tatgtctaat atagaaactc 1570 acataactag cccaggtaac acagcaagac cccatctcta caaaaatatt aaaaatttag 1630 ctgggcatgg tggcatgtgc ctgtaatccc aactactagg gacagtgagg cagaaggatg 1690 gcttgagccc aagagtttga agctgcagtg agctatgatc agctgcaatc caccctgggt 1750 aacacagcaa gactctatct caaaaaaaag aaaaaaaaga aatacataga gttcagtccc 1810 tagaagtatc ttcacaatga tccatacagc cttgctatgc tttagaactt tcaattttag 1870 gacaggaaag taacattaaa tgtagaaaac aaaaatggaa catttattcg caactcaaat 1930 actacgcata tacggtaaga gattaaatat aaacacagca agttccaccc cagtcctatt 1990 tgtccaaggc tgcatggtca aatggaatct tgaagagaac acctggacaa cagaggacct 2050 gtcagcgacg tctccggtct ggacttctgc tgcgtcttcg gccacctcta gggaaaaaga 2110 agcagggaga ggagtccatt agagggacat aatactaagt cctcattctg tttcgttcgt 2170 attcccttca cccagacagt atttgccctc ttcattttac ctcctcttgc cttttggtgg 2230 accccgaaca aaacaccagt caacgctgat gggctgtccc atcaaatcct ggccattgag 2290 tccctccata gcagcctggg cttccttgta tgtttcatat tcaactagag tatacccctg 2350 gggaaagtga aaagacagat atgaaaaccc tcctatttcc ccaagtatca ctgagtatct 2410 ttttcctcaa atctaaactc agaaaaatct acacacttta aacaatgaat gtacatcata 2470 tatctctact gtatatatac atcatctccg tttctgtctc tttggcgtgt ctgacaaaac 2530 atagatttcc aatgtcattt tatttcaact ttgctcttgg ccaaccacag caaacacaga 2590 actacgaatg ctacctaagg cttatgaaag aaaggaggca ataaagtgtc acttaggata 2650 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 379 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (73)..(73) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 73 stands for Cys, or Ser. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (212)..(212) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 212 stands for Leu, or Phe. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(292) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n is absent in the human sequence, but included herein for ease of alignment with the corresponding marmoset sequence. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(297) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-297 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(300) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-300 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (292)..(330) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 292-330 is a possible intron <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (798)..(800) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: 798-800 is the codon tga translated as a seleno cysteine (amino acid No. 179) <400> SEQUENCE: 37 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Gly Ser Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu 1 5 10 15 Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr 20 25 30 Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe 35 40 45 Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg 50 55 60 Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile 65 70 75 80 His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala 100 105 110 Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala 115 120 125 Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn 130 135 140 Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp 145 150 155 160 Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr 165 170 175 Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly 180 185 190 Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe 195 200 205 Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser 210 215 220 Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His 225 230 235 240 Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro 245 250 255 Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Thr 260 265 270 Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp 275 280 285 Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile 290 295 300 Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr 305 310 315 320 Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile 325 330 335 Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His 340 345 350 Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala 355 360 365 Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 1397 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1394) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (792)..(794) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 792-794 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 38 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gca 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 gcg ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca 341 Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser 15 20 25 gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga gtg acc 389 Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr 30 35 40 att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc ctg tgg 437 Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp 45 50 55 tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tst ccg gtc agg 485 Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg 60 65 70 aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act ttt gtg 533 Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val 75 80 85 90 gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg ctg gct 581 Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala 95 100 105 gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg gcc acg 629 Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr 110 115 120 tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc cag gca 677 Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala 125 130 135 gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa ctt ctg 725 Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu 140 145 150 ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag ctg ttc 773 Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe 155 160 165 170 ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act cag tgt 821 Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys 175 180 185 gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc tat aac 869 Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn 190 195 200 ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ytt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc atg gcc 917 Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala 205 210 215 atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag aca agg 965 Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg 220 225 230 aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt 1013 Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe 235 240 245 250 gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc ctg ctt 1061 Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu 255 260 265 atc ttg ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta ctg ggt 1109 Ile Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly 270 275 280 atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct ccc agc 1157 Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser 285 290 295 ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct ttg gat 1205 Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp 300 305 310 cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg cac caa 1253 Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln 315 320 325 330 gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg ctc caa 1301 Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln 335 340 345 gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act gtg aca 1349 Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr 350 355 360 tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct atc tga 1397 Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 377 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (71)..(71) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 71 stands for Cys, or Ser. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (210)..(210) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 210 stands for Leu, or Phe. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (792)..(794) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 792-794 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 39 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser 20 25 30 Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser 35 40 45 Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu 50 55 60 Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala 85 90 95 Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg 100 105 110 Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu 115 120 125 Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu 130 135 140 Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His 165 170 175 Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe 180 185 190 Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys 195 200 205 Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile 210 215 220 Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro 225 230 235 240 Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val 245 250 255 Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile 260 265 270 Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser 275 280 285 Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe 290 295 300 Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala 305 310 315 320 Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser 325 330 335 Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe 340 345 350 Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu 355 360 365 Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 1394 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1391) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (789)..(791) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 789-791 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 40 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gcg 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 ggg gag gag gtc tgg gct gga tca gga gtg gag gtg gag ggc tca gag 341 Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 15 20 25 ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc cga gtg gga gtg acc att 389 Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile 30 35 40 gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac ctg gca gtc ctg tgg tca 437 Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser 45 50 55 gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc ccc tst ccg gtc agg aga 485 Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg 60 65 70 ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta cta gtc act ttt gtg gtt 533 Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val 75 80 85 90 atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act gtt caa tgg ctg gct gtg 581 Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val 95 100 105 gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg aaa cta atg gcc acg tat 629 Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr 110 115 120 tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga ttg gac cgc cag gca gca 677 Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala 125 130 135 gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt gta agg aaa ctt ctg ggg 725 Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly 140 145 150 gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc ttc ccc cag ctg ttc ctg 773 Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu 155 160 165 170 ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc cct ttc act cag tgt gtc 821 Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val 175 180 185 acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa gag acc acc tat aac ctc 869 Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu 190 195 200 ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ytt ctg ctg cca ctg act gcc atg gcc atc 917 Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile 205 210 215 tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc agg ccc cag aca agg aag 965 Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys 220 225 230 ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt gac 1013 Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp 235 240 245 250 aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg aga ctg gcc ctg ctt atc 1061 Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile 255 260 265 ttg ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct tat tac cta ctg ggt atg 1109 Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met 270 275 280 tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act gaa gtc cct ccc agc ctg 1157 Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu 285 290 295 agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc aat gct cct ttg gat cct 1205 Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro 300 305 310 ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc cga aga ggg cac caa gaa 1253 Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu 315 320 325 330 ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct ggg aga atg ctc caa gag 1301 Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu 335 340 345 gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta caa aaa act gtg aca tca 1349 Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser 350 355 360 aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct ata aca tct atc tga 1394 Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 376 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (70)..(70) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 70 stands for Cys, or Ser. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (209)..(209) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 209 stands for Leu, or Phe. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (789)..(791) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 789-791 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 41 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Ala Gly Glu Glu Val Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Gly Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala 20 25 30 Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser 35 40 45 Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr 85 90 95 Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr 100 105 110 Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro 115 120 125 Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly 130 135 140 Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa 165 170 175 Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys 180 185 190 Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu 195 200 205 Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val 210 215 220 Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala 225 230 235 240 Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg 245 250 255 Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu 260 265 270 Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro 275 280 285 Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu 290 295 300 Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser 325 330 335 Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg 340 345 350 Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr 355 360 365 Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 370 375 <210> SEQ ID NO 42 <211> LENGTH: 1364 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (264)..(1361) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (759)..(761) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 759-761 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 42 cagtagaggc ctgaagccca ggctggtctg tccaaggaaa aaggagcgtg attggtacca 60 gatcttcgtt ccctgcagaa ccttgacagt tgaacaagtg acctcctcca gaacagatgg 120 agagtctcca gaagcagagg ctttagtgaa cgaaattcgc aataatcagc tccagatcct 180 gaaaaggagg gcgaagaatc agtggccaaa gctaaccgct tcatacccac acttcatcct 240 cctcagtttc tctccaggcc acc atg tct gca ggc aac ggc acc cct tgg gtg 293 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val 1 5 10 gag gtg gag ggc tca gag ctg ccc acc ttc tcg gca gca gcc aag gtc 341 Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val 15 20 25 cga gtg gga gtg acc att gtg ctg ttt gtt tct tcg gct gga ggg aac 389 Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn 30 35 40 ctg gca gtc ctg tgg tca gtg aca cgg cgg gaa ccc agc cag ctc cgc 437 Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg 45 50 55 ccc tst ccg gtc agg aga ctc ttc atc cat tta gca gcc gcc gac tta 485 Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu 60 65 70 cta gtc act ttt gtg gtt atg ccc cta gat gcc acc tgg aat atc act 533 Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr 75 80 85 90 gtt caa tgg ctg gct gtg gac atc gca tgt cgg aca ctg atg ttc ctg 581 Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu 95 100 105 aaa cta atg gcc acg tat tct gca gct ttc ctg cct gtg gtc att gga 629 Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly 110 115 120 ttg gac cgc cag gca gca gta ctc aac ccg ctt gga tcc cgt tca ggt 677 Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly 125 130 135 gta agg aaa ctt ctg ggg gca gcc tgg gga ctt agt ttc ctg ctt gcc 725 Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala 140 145 150 ttc ccc cag ctg ttc ctg ttc cac acg gtc cac nnn gct ggc cca gtc 773 Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val 155 160 165 170 cct ttc act cag tgt gtc acc aaa ggc agc ttc aag gct caa tgg caa 821 Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln 175 180 185 gag acc acc tat aac ctc ttc acc ttc tgc tgc ctc ytt ctg ctg cca 869 Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro 190 195 200 ctg act gcc atg gcc atc tgc tat agc cgc att gtc ctc agt gtg tcc 917 Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser 205 210 215 agg ccc cag aca agg aag ggg agc cat gcc cct gct ggt gaa ttt gcc 965 Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala 220 225 230 ctc ccc cgc tcc ttt gac aat tgt ccc cgt gtt cgt ctc cgg gcc ctg 1013 Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu 235 240 245 250 aga ctg gcc ctg ctt atc ttg ctg acc ttc atc ctc tgc tgg aca cct 1061 Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro 255 260 265 tat tac cta ctg ggt atg tgg tac tgg ttc tcc ccc acc atg cta act 1109 Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr 270 275 280 gaa gtc cct ccc agc ctg agc cac atc ctt ttc ctc ttg ggc ctc ctc 1157 Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu 285 290 295 aat gct cct ttg gat cct ctc ctc tat ggg gcc ttc acc ctt ggc tgc 1205 Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys 300 305 310 cga aga ggg cac caa gaa ctt agt ata gac tct tct aaa gaa ggg tct 1253 Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser 315 320 325 330 ggg aga atg ctc caa gag gag att cat gcc ttt aga cag ctg gaa gta 1301 Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val 335 340 345 caa aaa act gtg aca tca aga agg gca gga gaa aca aaa ggc att tct 1349 Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser 350 355 360 ata aca tct atc tga 1364 Ile Thr Ser Ile 365 <210> SEQ ID NO 43 <211> LENGTH: 366 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (60)..(60) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 60 stands for Cys, or Ser. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (199)..(199) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: The ′Xaa′ at location 199 stands for Leu, or Phe. <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (759)..(761) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: codon 759-761 is the codon tga translated as selenocysteine (amino acid 166) <400> SEQUENCE: 43 Met Ser Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Pro Trp Val Glu Val Glu Gly Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Arg Val Gly Val Thr Ile 20 25 30 Val Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Leu Ala Val Leu Trp Ser 35 40 45 Val Thr Arg Arg Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Arg Pro Xaa Pro Val Arg Arg 50 55 60 Leu Phe Ile His Leu Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Val Thr Phe Val Val 65 70 75 80 Met Pro Leu Asp Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile Thr Val Gln Trp Leu Ala Val 85 90 95 Asp Ile Ala Cys Arg Thr Leu Met Phe Leu Lys Leu Met Ala Thr Tyr 100 105 110 Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Val Val Ile Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Ala Ala 115 120 125 Val Leu Asn Pro Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Gly Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly 130 135 140 Ala Ala Trp Gly Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Phe Pro Gln Leu Phe Leu 145 150 155 160 Phe His Thr Val His Xaa Ala Gly Pro Val Pro Phe Thr Gln Cys Val 165 170 175 Thr Lys Gly Ser Phe Lys Ala Gln Trp Gln Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Leu 180 185 190 Phe Thr Phe Cys Cys Leu Xaa Leu Leu Pro Leu Thr Ala Met Ala Ile 195 200 205 Cys Tyr Ser Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gln Thr Arg Lys 210 215 220 Gly Ser His Ala Pro Ala Gly Glu Phe Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Phe Asp 225 230 235 240 Asn Cys Pro Arg Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Leu Ile 245 250 255 Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Cys Trp Thr Pro Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Met 260 265 270 Trp Tyr Trp Phe Ser Pro Thr Met Leu Thr Glu Val Pro Pro Ser Leu 275 280 285 Ser His Ile Leu Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro 290 295 300 Leu Leu Tyr Gly Ala Phe Thr Leu Gly Cys Arg Arg Gly His Gln Glu 305 310 315 320 Leu Ser Ile Asp Ser Ser Lys Glu Gly Ser Gly Arg Met Leu Gln Glu 325 330 335 Glu Ile His Ala Phe Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Gln Lys Thr Val Thr Ser 340 345 350 Arg Arg Ala Gly Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Ser Ile Thr Ser Ile 355 360 365 

1. A polynucleotide encoding a functional Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R) peptide.
 2. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 1 encoding at least a portion of exon I of Type II GnRH-R.
 3. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 1 which encodes mammalian Type II GnRH-R.
 4. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 3 which encodes a primate Type II GnRH-R.
 5. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 4 which encodes marmoset Type II GnRH-R.
 6. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 5 having the nucleotide sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 1 or which has over 90% homology thereto.
 7. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 4 which encodes human Type II GnRH-R.
 8. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 7 which comprises a nucleotide sequence as set out in any one of SEQ ID Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 36, 38, 40 or 42, or which has over 90% homology thereto.
 9. A polynucleotide is claimed in claim 8 which encodes an amino acid sequence as set out in any one of SEQ ID Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 37, 39, 41 or 43, or which has over 90% homology thereto.
 10. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 1 which encodes a peptide able to bind specifically to Type II GnRH.
 11. A polynucleotide as claimed in claim 10 which encodes a peptide able to act as a receptor for Type II GnRH-R.
 12. A recombinant genetic construct comprising a polynucleotide as claimed in claim
 1. 13. An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide as claimed in claim 1 and able to express functional Type II GnRH-R peptide.
 14. A host cell transformed with a vector as claimed in claim
 13. 15. A host cell as claimed in claim 14 able to express functional Type II GnRH-R.
 16. A transgenic animal having a construct as claimed in claim 12 stably integrated into its genome.
 17. An isolated functional Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R).
 18. A peptide comprising at least a portion of exon I of Type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Type II GnRH-R).
 19. A peptide as claimed in claim 17 which comprises a portion of exon I of mammalian Type II GnRH-R.
 20. A peptide as claimed in claim 19 which comprises a portion of exon I of primate Type II GnRH-R.
 21. A peptide as claimed in claim 17 having an amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 2 which has over 90% homology thereto.
 22. A peptide as claimed in claim 17 having an amino acid sequence as set out in any one of SEQ ID Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 37, 39, 41 or 43, or which has over 90% homology thereto.
 23. A peptide as claimed in claim 17 which is able to bind Type II GnRH specifically.
 24. A peptide as claimed in claim 23 which is a functional receptor for Type II GnRH.
 25. An antibody able to bind specifically to Type II GnRH-R.
 26. An antibody as claimed in claim 25 which is specific to an extracellular domain EC1, EC2 or EC3 of Type II GnRH-R.
 27. A method of screening an agent for pharmacological activity, said method comprising: a) providing functional Type II GnRH-R peptide and exposing said peptide to the agent; and b) ascertaining whether said agent interacts with said Type II GnRH-R peptide.
 28. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said Type II GnRH-R is expressed by a host cell as claimed in claim
 15. 29. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said Type II GnRH-R is expressed by a host cell transformed with a polynucleotide as claimed in claim 11 wherein said host cell imitates Type II GnRH-R signal transduction at least partially and wherein exposure of said host cell to said agent results in Type II GnRH-R signal transduction when said agent binds successfully to said Type II GnRH-R peptide.
 30. A method of inhibiting binding of GnRH to its native receptor in vivo, said method comprising administering Type II GnRH-R or an extracellular domain thereof.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the EC2 loop of Type II GnRH-R is administered.
 32. A method of contraception, said method comprising administering exogenous Type II GnRH-R or an extracellular domain thereof to a patient in quantities sufficient to substantially diminish binding of endogenous Type II GnRH to endogenous Type II GnRH-R. 